FZ7 Owners

[adamsfamily]

I don't see too many threads on the FZ7?

Is this because there aren't many owners, or because the owners are happy with their purchase.

This was a consideration over the TZ1, and TBH, I'm still not 100% which way to go, although I'm probably 70/30 in favour of the TZ1 at this stage...

Anyone who owns one want to sway me the other way?? Post up some various shots maybe? Daytime, Nighttime, Indoors, Fast Subject.....

Let me have your thoughts please, I'm keen to see what you think after reading the reviews about noise etc....

Cheers

[ckl_88]

I can see your dilemma ;-) I was in the same quandry about a week ago when I wanted to get a digicam for my upcoming vacation. Although my choices did not include the TZ1, I can tell you why I bought the FZ7.

Let me tell you ahead of time that my old digicam was a Sony S75. Also, I'm no photography expert. I'm just a guy who likes to take pictures.

1. High Zoom with image stabilization. My Sony had a 3x zoom. It was pathetic when I need to zoom in on something. 12x with OIS and Leica to boot was a bonus.

2. Fast response. Focusing times are pretty quick on this prosumer camera. The Sony was pretty slow in any light and I often missed shots. It was usually me waiting for the camera rather than the other way around.

3. Good Flash. First few days I was mostly taking indoor shots. The flash is powerful and recharges within 2 seconds. The flash modes are easily changed with a press of a button (ie. redeye, slow sync, etc). The Sony H series (which I also had my eye on) had a flash recharge time > 7 secs as was my old S75. Although I never had a problem with long flash recycle times.

4. Size. Although not the smallest, it is really not that big. It is comparable in size to my S75 and I have been carrying that camera around for ages. The FZ7 is also lighter because it has a plastic case... so probably not as sturdy.

5. Night shooting - has a couple of night shooting modes as well as a bulb feature which allows exposures of up to 60 seconds. (I only tested out a 15 second exposure though and it was noise free).

6. There are the little things. Live histogram when composing your pictures is a nice touch. Manual focus options that allow you to magnify the center or the whole screen. Auto rotate pics on playback so you don't have to rotate the camera (or your head) for pics of a different orientation. Joystick control is a good feature which allows you to control WB, ISO, etc without going into the menus. Comes with a lens adaptor so you can add filters and conversion lenses.

About noise. Yes, there is evident noise even at ISO80 especially in the shadowy areas of a picture. At ISO200, indoor shots with flourescent lighting (as in the store where I tried the camera out) had so much noise that it was almost overwhelming - of course, I didn't use the flash, but I suspect the noise issue will not be any better. My S75 had similar noise characteristics at ISO200... as with alot of current digicams on the market today. The FZ7 just has a little more.

The noise at ISO80 to IS100 is very acceptable as it can be removed with Neat Image or Noise Ninja without any problems. Noise removal is already a part of my post processing workflow so it is really *not* a big deal. The amount of noise is also dependent on the amount of light available when you take your picture. I had some shots in bright sunlight with hardly any noticeable noise, and some shots in not so bright conditions that had some noise. However, they are all manageable with good post processing.

Overall, I was very impressed with the FZ7. It had almost everything I wanted in a digicam, but you may have a different set of priorities.

Anyway, I hope I didn't bore you with the details.

PS> Shopping for a digicam is like looking for a wife, you are bound to make some compromises ;-)

[adamsfamily]

Thanks for in depth notes on the FZ7 CKL88, and no you didn't bore me at all!
Made very good reading.

Points 1 & 2 are very high on my list of priorities, and it covers them very well.

Point 3 is not so important as i don't like to use flash unless absolutely necessary because I like to capture the true ambience of a picture and always worry that the flash will wash things out a little.

Point 4 is a difficult one for me really. In one respect, I sit and think a compact would be great as I can grab it anytime I leave the house and carry it around, but then I think that sometimes I'd prefer something a little larger so you know you've got something in your hand... sounds daft I know!! But the FZ7 is not massive, so it could be ok.

Point 5. Well i like night shots, I'm by no means a pro, not even a semi pro, just someone that likes to occasionally be creative with my pics, especially at night.

Point 6, the extras, from your list: don't really use Histograms, although I'm starting to understand them. Manual Focus I have started to use more, although, I do prefer manual focus rings as opposed to the electronic version, I never seem to be able to master them. Auto rotate is a good feature to have too, and that joystick looks a lot easier and seems to control a lot more. I also like the idea of lens adaptors/protectors!!

Now comes my biggest worry.... the noise!!

I said, my priorities are Zoom, Speed (shot to shot and continous mode) and then indoor shots without flash. My son does TKD and I really want to start to catch some shots now he's getting good, but we can't use flash.

I don't understand Neat Image so I need to be able to print 7x5 with the occasional A4 size without having to post process.

I realise that nearly all the digicams on the market will give me noise past ISO200 without flash, but I guess thats life, but if I could get some reasonable pics at 100 then I'd be happy.

If you have any example pictures you can put up or email me directly then that would be great. I think you know what I'm after now, indoor shots at varying ISO's and a couple of outdoor shots to see how the colours look.
Your write up has helped greatly- thank you.

[wenmang]

I am using FZ7 for shooting short movies and it impresses me too.

[ckl_88]

I will take some indoor pictures tonight and email them to you tomorrow sometime. Here's what I'll do:

1. Take a picture (with no flash) of something at all availble ISO's so you can get an idea of the noise. I will just use the available light in the room. Usually, just a lamp and potlights.
2. Create a new set of images from the original and run them through neat image... so you can get an idea of what noise reduction programs can do.

So essentially, you will get two sets of photos. The unprocessed originals and the noise reduced photos. You will be looking at the same object in all photos. I already have a couple of outdoor shots (at ISO80) so I will send them to you as well.

Make sure your email account can handle megabytes worth of pictures. If not, email me an account that can.

BTW, the TZ1 won a TIPA award for the best d-ultrazoom I believe.

[adamsfamily]

Tx CKL88, much appreciated.

Rather than a set no flash, and one set post processed with neat image, can you do one set no flash and one set with flash at all ISO's as I'll probably go with the flash option (where i can) rather than post process as my understanding of this software is not great. I have tried.... but failed.

If you wish, by all means send some that you have post processed as well, it may even give me the incentive to give it another go!??

Thanks again!

[GaryFx]

6. There are the little things. ... Comes with a lens adaptor so you can add filters and conversion lenses.

As far as I know, the adapter that comes with it is only suitable for filters (52mm), not conversion lenses. Panasonic makes a separate adapter (55m) for use with their conversion lenses.

In theory, I suppose you could add some other company's 52mm conversion lens, but I'm assuming that the optics are such that the results would be far from satisfactory (vignetting, etc.).

Gary

[overseas]

Hi there!

@adamsfamiliy: I was very interested in the TZ1, but I chose FZ7 because of the electronic viewfinder (EVF) it offers, since I often need to take photos in very bright daylight and this is when LCD viewing becomes nearly impossible.

@everybody who is interested:

I,ve just posted some of my FZ7 samples here:

http://fotocenter.freenet.de/login/g...5203959/437366

Select the photo you want to see in full size by marking the little white square below the thumbnail pic, then choose 'Original öffnen' instead of 'Aktion wählen' in the popup menu, then click OK. All of these photos without post processing. Maybe you'll get some impression by them.


For more detailed testing, I have posted an ISO-Test here:

http://s4.simpleupload.de/f43c6b1c8/..._1600.jpg.html

I'm very happy with this cam. Greetings!
overseas

[adamsfamily]

Tx for the links overseas, some more great pictures there....

I don't suppose that between you and CKL_88 either of you have some action shots taken with this camera...
(CKL_88, I know you've done some great shots so far for me, and I don't like to ask...)
I'm convinced that the camera doesn't produce noise nearly as much as some of the reviews mention, ok, I've only printed out 6x4 size so far, but then most of mine will be.

Most of my shots will be indoors of the family or action shots of the dog and the kids on their scooters, so if you have any examples of action shots, even an example of the continous mode would be good (3fps? I believe) then this camera seeker would be very grateful!

Cheers for now.

[overseas]

if you have any examples of action shots, even an example of the continous mode would be good (3fps? I believe) then this camera seeker would be very grateful!

Hi Steve! I've posted some burstmode shots especially for you:
http://fotocenter.freenet.de/login/g...7203959/437146

These were all taken in high speed burst mode with continuous autofocus 'on':
a car passing by (driver anonymized) and my dog having a walk (difficult light conditions unfortunately, but it was only for testing). Hope it helps you with your decision. For a better impression of the sequences, I recommend the option 'Bildershow starten' in the popup menu.


Indoor pics with flash come out great, because of the powerful flash. But I don't want to publish pics of my children. Sorry for that.

So long, Stephan